Meet Barbara Baars, a member of Community Care’s Family Care program in Racine. For a woman who can’t use her arms and has very limited use of her legs, she is amazingly independent. Barbara attributes her upbringing and the services she receives with empowering her to live on her own.

Although Barbara has lived with cerebral palsy her entire life, her parents never let it be an excuse or an obstacle. “I was never treated differently from my brother. They didn’t deny things were more challenging for me, but it didn’t make a difference. When I needed or wanted to do something, my mom would figure out how I could do it on my own.”

Barbara’s family owned the True Value Hardware Store on Durand Avenue in Sturtevant. Her job was to take care of the accounts receivable. “Mom would put it all out in front of me. I would type with a stick in my mouth.” Barbara’s dad had a house designed and built with her in mind. She lived there with her parents while they were living, and it is still her home today.

After an illness in 2002, Barbara spent 10 months in a nursing home, where she was evaluated as a good candidate to live at home. Barbara moved back into the home with her mother. Upon her return home, Barbara began receiving long-term care services through Racine County and its service provider, Society’s Assets.

Barbara’s mother died in 2006, the year Barbara turned 60, and Barbara found herself on her own with many new responsibilities to learn. “I had to learn to be a homeowner and all that entails,” she says.

Community Care, as the state’s new contracted managed long-term care provider, began providing Family Care services in Racine in 2007. County clients like Barbara began receiving services through Community Care. Barbara became a Community Care participant in July. Society’s Assets continues serving Barbara as Community Care’s contracted service provider. “The transition has been very smooth,” says Barbara. “The people I’m working with are all wonderful,” she says.

During the day, Barbara receives help in the morning to get ready for the day and throughout the day with her meals.

Through Community Care, Barbara was also able to tackle a major obstacle to independence – nighttime. “I need extra help at night because in bed I’m a prisoner. I have no ability to move. If I get cold, I can’t put on an extra cover. If I’m hot, I can’t kick off the sheets. I can’t get up to get a drink of water.”

Community Care helped Barbara develop a care plan that used the Self-Directed Supports option through which she could pay friends to stay overnight. She chose three friends who all have nursing home experience. Two of them are certified nursing assistants. “I’m an employer now,” she says.

With support, I can live on my own, says Barbara. “Everything may take a little longer when I’m on my own, but it will get done.” When life looks challenging and Barbara needs courage, she tells herself, “You know you can do it.” And she has proven that she can.